2chambers - Breaking news and analysis from Capitol Hill.

Posted at 08:30 PM ET, 04/30/2012

Secret Service scandal: Watchdog planning separate probe

By Ed O'Keefe

Homeland Security inspector general also tells lawmakers the agency kept him in the loop about its initial investigation.

By Ed O'Keefe | 08:30 PM ET, 04/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 04/30/2012

An interview with Leonard Boswell

By Ed O'Keefe

The Iowa Democrat faces the closest reelection fight of his long career.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 04/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 04/30/2012

An interview with Tom Latham

By Ed O'Keefe

The Iowa Republican explains why he moved to a different part of the state to run for reelection.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 04/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 04/29/2012

What’s going on at the top of the U.S. Capitol?

By Ed O'Keefe

Find out why they’re fixing the big statue on the Capitol Dome.

By Ed O'Keefe | 01:30 PM ET, 04/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 04/29/2012

John Boehner: President Obama picking ‘fake fights’

By Ed O'Keefe

The Speaker of the House once again excoriates the president for politicizing issues to win reelection.

By Ed O'Keefe | 01:00 PM ET, 04/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:53 PM ET, 04/27/2012

House approves student loan plan; White House vows veto over health fund depletion

By Ed O'Keefe

The White House vows to veto the plan because it would take money from a health fund, setting up a campaign-season fight.

By Ed O'Keefe | 12:53 PM ET, 04/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:00 PM ET, 04/26/2012

Violence Against Women Act reauthorization bill passed by Senate

By Rosalind S. Helderman

A measure to renew the protections for victims of domestic violence passed despite some GOP objections to key provisions.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 05:00 PM ET, 04/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Violence Against Women Act, Women's issues, Domestic violence

Posted at 03:30 PM ET, 04/26/2012

Paul Ryan defends his interpretation of Catholic teachings

By Ed O'Keefe

The House Budget Committee chairman says his interpretations of church teachings influence his spending proposals.

By Ed O'Keefe | 03:30 PM ET, 04/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:16 PM ET, 04/26/2012

John Boehner doubts Marco Rubio immigration plan could pass House this year

By Ed O'Keefe

The House speaker says the chance of the GOP-led House passing immigration reform is “difficult, at best.”

By Ed O'Keefe | 01:16 PM ET, 04/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 04/26/2012

Two Republican House members say Obama misquoted them

By Rosalind S. Helderman

Two Republican members of Congress are striking back at President Obama for personally targeting them in speeches about keeping student loan rates low.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 12:30 PM ET, 04/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 PM ET, 04/25/2012

Secret Service scandal: No similar recent examples of misconduct, Napolitano says

By Ed O'Keefe

The Homeland Security secretary is first Obama administration to face public questions on Secret Service scandal.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 PM ET, 04/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:07 PM ET, 04/25/2012

Senate approves changes to the U.S. Postal Service

By Ed O'Keefe

Measure overhauls the mail agency and sets limits on when and how it can close small rural post offices.

By Ed O'Keefe | 05:07 PM ET, 04/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:25 PM ET, 04/25/2012

Blue Dog Democrats trying to stave off extinction following Pennsylvania losses

By Paul Kane

Reps. Jason Altmire and Tim Holden, members of the moderate-to-conservative caucus of Democrats, lost their primary battles Tuesday.

By Paul Kane | 04:25 PM ET, 04/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:33 PM ET, 04/25/2012

Police investigating threats against Marco Rubio

By Ed O'Keefe

U.S. Capitol Police confirm probe of threats against the Florida Republican.

By Ed O'Keefe | 01:33 PM ET, 04/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 04/25/2012

Congressional battle brewing on how to pay for student loan rate cut

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Paul Kane

Senate minority leader blasts Obama for playing politics with the issue and signals opposition to Democratic student loan bill.

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Paul Kane | 11:15 AM ET, 04/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 04/25/2012

House to vote to prevent GSA-like spending

By Ed O'Keefe

A bipartisan bill also would establish new financial reporting standards for federal agencies.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 04/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:35 PM ET, 04/24/2012

Gabrielle Giffords, Kirsten Gillibrand shop before Emily’s List dinner

By Natalie Jennings

Former representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and friend Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) shopped on Capitol Hill on Tuesday afternoon.

By Natalie Jennings | 04:35 PM ET, 04/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:57 PM ET, 04/24/2012

Senate begins debate on Postal Service; approves plan capping agency spending

By Ed O'Keefe

The plan is adopted as an amendment to a massive postal reform bill.

By Ed O'Keefe | 03:57 PM ET, 04/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:15 PM ET, 04/24/2012

Sen. Mark Kirk’s first photo released since his stroke

By Ed O'Keefe

The Illinois Republican continues his recovery from a stroke in January.

By Ed O'Keefe | 12:15 PM ET, 04/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 04/24/2012

John Boehner keeps talking

By Ed O'Keefe

In a TV interview, the speaker forecasts November’s elections and strikes back at David Axelrod.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 04/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:00 PM ET, 04/23/2012

Capitol Police Chief Phillip D. Morse to retire

By Ed O'Keefe

The head of the congressional law enforcement agency is leaving for a new job in the private sector.

By Ed O'Keefe | 05:00 PM ET, 04/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 04/23/2012

Postal Service prompts tricky votes in the Senate

By Ed O'Keefe

Postal reform pits lawmakers from urban areas against those from smaller rural states.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 04/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 04/22/2012

Secret Service scandal: Lawmakers voice support for Director Mark Sullivan

By Ed O'Keefe

Lawmakers closely tracking the prostitution scandal at the U.S. Secret Service continued to voice support Sunday for the Director Mark Sullivan and his investigation.

By Ed O'Keefe | 12:00 PM ET, 04/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 04/22/2012

GSA scandal: Lawmakers promise more hearings

By Ed O'Keefe

A top senator says the congressional probes aren’t over yet. In fact, they want more.

By Ed O'Keefe | 09:30 AM ET, 04/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 04/20/2012

GSA Vegas scandal prompts bills that would gut spending on federal agency conferences

By Ed O'Keefe

At least three proposals unveiled this week are aimed at preventing more GSA-like scandals.

By Ed O'Keefe | 11:40 AM ET, 04/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 04/20/2012

How some senators would fix the Postal Service

By Ed O'Keefe

Take a look at some of the ideas floated this week on Capitol Hill. Some might earn approval, others definitely won’t.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 04/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:38 PM ET, 04/19/2012

Denying interest in vice presidency, Rubio pushes version of Dream Act

By Paul Kane

Hoping to boost his party’s image with Hispanic voters, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) launched a one-man push Thursday to promote a modified version of legislation to benefit undocumented children whose parents brought them to this nation.

By Paul Kane | 06:38 PM ET, 04/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:37 PM ET, 04/19/2012

More Secret Service dismissals likely, lawmakers say

By Ed O'Keefe

Members of both parties express confidence in the agency’s top leadership.

By Ed O'Keefe | 03:37 PM ET, 04/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:21 PM ET, 04/19/2012

Obama plans to renominate GOP member of NRC, averting fight with Senate Republicans

By Ed O'Keefe

The White House plans to renominate a Nuclear Regulatory Commission member who accused the panel’s chairman of inappropriate behavior.

By Ed O'Keefe | 02:21 PM ET, 04/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:04 PM ET, 04/19/2012

House approves small-business tax cut plan

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Ed O’Keefe

The plan has no hope of passage in the Senate — and that’s just fine with the GOP.

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Ed O’Keefe | 02:04 PM ET, 04/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:00 PM ET, 04/18/2012

Lawmakers request full details of Secret Service scandal by May 1

By Ed O'Keefe

A House oversight panel expects to receive a full briefing on the scope of the incident and subsequent investigation by May 1.

By Ed O'Keefe | 10:00 PM ET, 04/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:24 PM ET, 04/18/2012

New spending clash looms: Obama threatens veto on House bills that would raise caps

By Rosalind S. Helderman

The White House says the president won’t sign House appropriations measures that set spending below caps agreed upon in the debt deal last summer.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 05:24 PM ET, 04/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 04/18/2012

In wake of GSA scandal, Harry Reid and Dean Heller agree on something: Las Vegas rocks

By Ed O'Keefe

In the wake of the GSA scandal, the state’s two senators — who don’t agree on much — say that Sin City is still a great place to do business.

By Ed O'Keefe | 11:40 AM ET, 04/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 04/18/2012

Boehner: Obama ‘checked out’ last Labor Day

By Ed O'Keefe

By Ed O'Keefe | 11:00 AM ET, 04/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:28 PM ET, 04/17/2012

Instead of Democrat budget, chairman proposes Simpson-Bowles plan

By Rosalind S. Helderman

The Senate Budget Committee chairman’s offer of a revised Simpson-Bowles plan instead of a budget blueprint gives the GOP an opening to accuse Democrats of evading responsibility.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 04:28 PM ET, 04/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:30 PM ET, 04/17/2012

McConnell, Boehner endorses Romney for president

By Paul Kane

The Senate minority leader and House speaker are among the Republicans now “unifying” behind the presumptive challenger to President Obama.

By Paul Kane | 03:30 PM ET, 04/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:28 PM ET, 04/17/2012

Senate GOP joining legal action against Obama recess appointments

By Ed O'Keefe

They will file an amicus brief in a federal lawsuit challenging appointments to consumer and labor boards.

By Ed O'Keefe | 03:28 PM ET, 04/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:53 AM ET, 04/17/2012

Senate begins debating future of U.S. Postal Service

By Ed O'Keefe

Senators begin considering what to do about the struggling delivery service.

By Ed O'Keefe | 11:53 AM ET, 04/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 04/17/2012

Sen. Daniel Akaka headed back to Washington after bout with dehydration

By Ed O'Keefe

Hawaii’s junior senator is due back at the Capitol on Wednesday, a spokesman says.

By Ed O'Keefe | 11:00 AM ET, 04/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:31 PM ET, 04/16/2012

GSA scandal: Jeff Neely declines to testify at start of first House hearing

By Ed O'Keefe

Jeff Neely, the man at the center of the scandal, declines to explain why he authorized spending on the Las Vegas conference.

By Ed O'Keefe | 03:31 PM ET, 04/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 04/16/2012

What do Warren Buffett, Lena Horne and Mark Twain have in common?

By Ed O'Keefe

Find out why lawmakers will be talking about the business guru, the singer and the author.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 04/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 04/15/2012

Secret Service scandal could be bigger, lawmaker says

By Ed O'Keefe

“Things like this don’t happen once,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman.

By Ed O'Keefe | 11:00 AM ET, 04/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:20 PM ET, 04/13/2012

An interview with Steve King

By Ed O'Keefe

The Iowa Republican lawmaker, facing his most competitive reelection race ever, thinks his opponent is running as a proxy for her husband.

By Ed O'Keefe | 08:20 PM ET, 04/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:16 PM ET, 04/13/2012

An interview with Christie Vilsack

By Ed O'Keefe

Iowa’s former first lady on why being the political spouse is harder than running for office.

By Ed O'Keefe | 08:16 PM ET, 04/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 04/13/2012

Dennis Kucinich ‘looking at all my options’ in Washington state

By Ed O'Keefe

The soon-to-be former Ohio lawmaker exploring options ahead of a possible run out West.

By Ed O'Keefe | 08:00 AM ET, 04/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 04/13/2012

Sen. Ron Johnson denies a staff shakeup

By Ed O'Keefe

Spokesman says the Republican freshman isn’t purging his D.C. office.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 04/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 04/12/2012

GAO warns Congress again about Postal Service

By Ed O'Keefe

The nation’s mail system needs lawmakers to act soon, report says.

By Ed O'Keefe | 02:00 PM ET, 04/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 04/11/2012

GOP leaders ask White House to avoid ‘midnight regulations’ this fall

By Ed O'Keefe

Republican leaders want President Obama not to make any significant regulatory decisions after the end of the fiscal year in September — especially if he loses re-election.

By Ed O'Keefe | 01:00 PM ET, 04/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: U.S. Congress, federal regulation

Posted at 08:30 AM ET, 04/10/2012

Paul Ryan on VP: ‘It’s never come up’

By Ed O'Keefe

The House Budget Committee chairman

By Ed O'Keefe | 08:30 AM ET, 04/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 04/10/2012

Four hearings in Congress next week on GSA scandal

By Ed O'Keefe

A quarter of Congressional panels plan to hold hearings next week on the agency’s overspending on a Las Vegas conference.

By Ed O'Keefe | 08:00 AM ET, 04/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:25 PM ET, 04/09/2012

Dick Lugar: Too mild to be memorable?

By Ed O'Keefe

The Indiana Republican faces a tough challenge from a tea party-backed opponent.

By Ed O'Keefe | 04:25 PM ET, 04/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:39 PM ET, 04/05/2012

Mitch McConnell to Obama: ‘Back off’ the Supreme Court

By Ed O'Keefe

The Senate minority leader says he respects the high court’s independence — and the president should too.

By Ed O'Keefe | 03:39 PM ET, 04/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:12 PM ET, 04/03/2012

Steve King: Marco Rubio ‘speaks to my heart’

By Ed O'Keefe

The conservative Iowa lawmaker says the Florida senator would be a wise choice as Romney’s running mate.

By Ed O'Keefe | 12:12 PM ET, 04/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 04/01/2012

Paul Ryan says he ‘misspoke’ on military budget

By Ed O'Keefe

House Budget committee chairman clarifies comments that generals may not be “giving us their true advice” on Pentagon budget.

By Ed O'Keefe | 11:15 AM ET, 04/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

2chambers: April, 2012